Electronic input system

ABSTRACT

An electronic communications method includes receiving, by a device, electronic information. The electronic communications method further includes receiving, by the device, additional electronic information. A time period between receiving the electronic information and the additional electronic information is less than another time period between receiving the electronic information and the additional electronic information by using a standard keyboard.

BACKGROUND

A user may use various forms of electronic inputs to enter informationinto a computing device that can be then understood by the computingdevice for processing, transmission or display of the inputtedinformation. While there are numerous systems for inputting electronicinformation, there are no known systems that efficiently receiveelectronic information reduce the amount of time between inputs ofelectronic information. Furthermore, there are no known systems thatallow for automaticity: a device that supports text and command inputand allow for simultaneous device interaction for other social or workactivities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C is a diagram of an example environment in which systemsand/or methods described herein may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a network environment:

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example computing device;

FIG. 4 is an diagram of an example computing device:

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example surface area for an electronic inputsystem;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example surface area for an electronic inputsystem;

FIGS. 7A-7C are diagrams of example surfaces associated with anelectronic input system:

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example electronic input system;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an example electronic input system;

FIG. 10 is an example graphical user interface display;

FIG. 11 is an example diagram of an electronic input system;

FIG. 12 is an example flow diagram for displaying information associatedwith an electronic input system;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are of an example environment in which systems and/ormethods described herein may be implemented;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are example diagrams of example surfaces associatedwith an electronic input system;

FIG. 15 is an example diagram of an example input system;

FIGS. 16, 17, and 18 are example entry areas;

FIG. 19 is an example database;

FIG. 20 is an example entry area;

FIG. 21 is an example entry area; and

FIG. 22 are example components of a device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the sameor similar elements.

Systems, devices, and/or methods described herein may allow for a userof a user device (e.g., laptop, smartphone, headset, remote control,etc.) to input electronic information in a manner that reduces theamount of time between different inputs of electronic information.Furthermore, the systems, devices, and/or methods described herein mayreduce the physical size of various mechanical and/or electricalfeatures. For example, there may be a laptop that, rather than having aQWERTY-style keyboard, has an alternative keyboard described in one ormore examples associated with one or more of the figures describedherein. A user may then use this alternative keyboard to enterelectronic information into the laptop within less time than if the userwere to enter the same electronic information via a standard keyboardsuch as a QWERTY-style keyboard (e.g., which has a row of letters thatbegin with Q, W, E, R, T, and Y and have another row which has a row ofletter that begin with A, S, D, and F, and an additional row which mayhave a row of letters that begin with Z, X, C, and V). In otherlanguages, the standard keyboard may have their own row of letters orphonetics that follows a QWERTY-style keyboard in that language and/orhave their own alphabet printed onto a QWRTY-style keyboard.

In embodiments, the alternative keyboard (hereinafter referred to as theelectronic input system) may be physically sized to be used on an inputdevice that can electronically communicate (wire or wirelessly) with auser device. In embodiments, the user device can be a television, alaptop, a tablet, a headset, headphones, a smartphone, or any otherdevice that can receive electronic input information. In embodiments,the electronic input system may have one or more surface areas. Inembodiments, each surface area may be further subdivided into definedareas that are associated with inputting particular types of electronicinformation. For example, a portion of the electronic input system mayallow for one or more different types of electronic information. In anon-limiting example, a portion of the electronic input system may beconfigured to receive electronic inputs for the letter “a,” “x” and “v.”In another non-limiting example, a portion of the electronic inputsystem may be configured to receive electronic inputs for the symbols“&” and “@.” In embodiments, the electronic input system may haveinformation printed on the surface of the electronic input system thatindicates which defined areas are associated with which types ofinformation that may be inputted. In alternate embodiments, theelectronic input system may have an electronic touch screen display thathas information displayed that indicates which defined areas of theelectronic touch screen are associated with different types ofinformation. In embodiments, the type of information for inputassociated with a particular area of the display screen may be changedand associated with other types of information for input. In anon-limiting example, an area of the electronic touch screen may beconfigured to receive electronic inputs for “1,” “2,” and “3.” In thisnon-limiting example, a particular swipe or other touch command changesthe information displayed on the electronic touch screen and is nowconfigured to receive electronic inputs for “a,” “c,” and “i.” Also, inembodiments, changing the position of the electronic input position mayresult in how particular electronic information is inputted. Inembodiments, areas of the electronic touch screen may associated withdifferent types of information based on patterns of previous electronicinputs. In embodiments, the one or more examples described use a targettouch surface that tactually rather than visually, provides fordistraction free texting and command inputs. As such, the tactilefeature of the device results in touch targets (e.g., buttons on aparticular type of keypad) to be closer together than with keyboards andother input devices that require visual interaction. As such, a devicemay be reduced in size and can be further used in applications thatallow for the device to be placed in a pocket, worn on a wrist, orintegrated into a controller or any other hand held device.

Accordingly, the electronic input system may provide one or moreelectronic processes that (1) receiving multiple types of electronicinformation within a defined area of the electronic input system, (2)has a physical area that is less than other input systems associatedwith a user device, and (3) reduces the amount of time between inputs ofdifferent types of electronic information. Accordingly, an electronicinput system allows for the interaction with an electronic device to bean automatized activity, thereby allowing the simultaneous performanceof another task. Thus, a user of the electronic input system can conductinputting text or issuing commands on such a device without interruptinganother activity. Thus, the electronic input system allows for anautomatized activity that allows the user to perform tasks withoutinterference with conducting low level tasks (e.g., entering data onto akeypad). As such, the device is designed to be operated by touch withone hand, support both text and command input and to be small enough tobe conveniently carried so as to be always available.

FIGS. 1A to 1C show an example shows an example environment describingan electronic input system. As shown in FIG. 1A, a person is walkingwith the person wearing headset 102 (e.g., glasses, goggles, etc.) andalso holding input device 104. In embodiments, input device 104 may bean electronic input system. The person is hold input device 104 and may,while walking, enter information into input device 104. FIG. 1Bdescribes input device 104 in further detail. As shown in FIG. 1B, inputdevice 104 has area 106 which is further delineated into differentregions with each region allowing for input of particular information.As shown in FIG. 1B, one of those regions is 108A and another region is108B. In embodiments, region 108A may allow the person to input “A, “I,”or “O” at any given time and region 108B may allow the person to input“V,” “M,” or “P” at any given time. In this non-limiting example, theperson may, while not looking at input device 104, enter informationthat is then wirelessly communicate with headset 102. As shown in FIG.1C, the person enters a search request for “nearby golf courses” byusing input device 104. Accordingly, headset 102 electronicallycommunicates with other computing devices and receives electronicinformation (“Happiness Golf Course” and “The Hole in One Resort) whichare then displayed one of the lens areas of headset 104. Accordingly, aperson may use an electronic input system, such as input device 104, toenter information without looking at the electronic input system anddoing so within less time than if the person was looking at theelectronic input system, dimensional image that is electronicallydisplayed on the user device screen. As such, the electronic inputsystem allows for a user to increase the amount of time for conductingother activities, such as other electronic communications and inputs.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of example environment 200 in which systems,devices, and/or methods described herein may be implemented. FIG. 2shows network 122, user device 124, input device 126, and analysisserver 128. Network 122 may include a local area network (LAN), widearea network (WAN), a metropolitan network (MAN), a telephone network(e.g., the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)), a Wireless LocalArea Networking (WLAN), a WiFi, a hotspot, a Light fidelity (LiFi), aWorldwide Interoperability for Microware Access (WiMax), an ad hocnetwork, an intranet, the Internet, a satellite network, a GPS network,a fiber optic-based network, and/or combination of these or other typesof networks.

Additionally, or alternatively, network 122 may include a cellularnetwork, a public land mobile network (PLMN), a second generation (2G)network, a third generation (3G) network, a fourth generation (4G)network, a fifth generation (5G) network, and/or another network. Inembodiments, network 122 may allow for devices describe in any of thefigures to electronically communicate (e.g., using emails, electronicsignals, URL links, web links, electronic bits, fiber optic signals,wireless signals, wired signals, etc.) with each other so as to send andreceive various types of electronic communications.

User device 124 may include any computation or communications devicethat is capable of communicating with a network (e.g., network 122). Forexample, user device 124 may include a radiotelephone, a personalcommunications system (PCS) terminal (e.g., that may combine a cellularradiotelephone with data processing and data communicationscapabilities), a personal digital assistant (PDA) (e.g., that caninclude a radiotelephone, a pager, Internet/intranet access, etc.), asmart phone, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, acamera, a personal gaming system, a television, a set top box, a digitalvideo recorder (DVR), a digital audio recorder (DUR), a digital watch, adigital glass, a virtual reality (VR) headset or device, a augmentedreality (AR) headset or device, or another type of computation orcommunications device.

User device 124 may receive and/or display content. The content mayinclude objects, data, images, audio, video, text, files, and/or linksto files accessible via one or more networks. Content may include amedia stream, which may refer to a stream of content that includes videocontent (e.g., a video stream), audio content (e.g., an audio stream),and/or textual content (e.g., a textual stream). In embodiments, anelectronic application may use an electronic graphical user interface todisplay content and/or information via user device 124. User device 124may have a touch screen and/or a keyboard that allows a user toelectronically interact with an electronic application. In embodiments,a user may swipe, press, or touch user device 124 in such a manner thatone or more electronic actions will be initiated by user device 124 viaan electronic application.

User device 124 may include a variety of applications, such as, forexample, an image generation application, an e-mail application, atelephone application, a camera application, a video application, amulti-media application, a music player application, a visual voice mailapplication, a contacts application, a data organizer application, acalendar application, an instant messaging application, a textingapplication, a web browsing application, a location-based application(e.g., a GPS-based application), a blogging application, and/or othertypes of applications (e.g., a word processing application, aspreadsheet application, etc.).

Input device 126 may interact with user device 124 by receiving userinputs which are then electronically sent to user device 124. Inembodiments, input device 126 may be a part of user device 124. Inembodiments, the information inputted into input device 126 may bedisplayed by user device 124. In embodiments, information inputted intoinput device 126 may electronically communicate with user device 124 viawireless and/or wire communication systems. In embodiments, theinformation may be analyzed by user device 124 and used by user device124 to conduct additional electronic activities (e.g., conductingsearches via a search engine, conducting searches for geographicinformation, etc.). In embodiments, input device 126 may have one ormore areas that receive particular types of input information. Inembodiments, the one or more areas may be physically constructed of amaterial (e.g., plastic, metal, composite material, etc.) that permitsinformation printed on the one or more areas. In embodiments, inputdevice 126 may have one or areas that have physical borders that allow auser (by touch) to differentiate one area from another. In embodiments,input device 126 may have areas which are touchscreens that allow forusers to input electronic information. In embodiments, the touchscreensmay have physical borders that differentiate one touchscreen area fromanother touchscreen area. In embodiments, the type of information thatcan be displayed on the touchscreen may be changed by a user of inputdevice 126. In embodiments, input device 126 may be a separate devicefrom user device 124 or may be a part of input device 126. In alternateembodiments, portions of input device 126 may be touchscreen and otherportions may be constructed of a material with information printed onthe material.

Analysis server 128 may include one or more computational orcommunication devices that gather, process, store, and/or provideinformation relating to one or more web pages, electronic pages, and/orimages associated with input device 126. In embodiments, analysis server128 may use information inputted into input device 126 to change howparticular information can be inputted into input device 126 based on auser's interaction with input device 126. In embodiments, analysisserver 128 may determine, based on received information to input device126, that a particular area, based on its location on input device 126,should include a different type of accepted input from the user thatreduces the amount of interval time that input device 126 receivesbetween different inputs. In embodiments, analysis server 128 may be apart of input device 126 and/or user device 124.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of example components of a device 300. Device 300may correspond to user device 124, input device 126, and/or analysisserver 128. Alternatively, or additionally, user device 124, inputdevice 125, and/or analysis server 128 may include one or more devices300 and/or one or more components of device 300.

As shown in FIG. 3, device 300 may include a bus 310, a processor 320, amemory 330, an input component 340, an output component 350, and acommunications interface 360. In other implementations, device 300 maycontain fewer components, additional components, different components,or differently arranged components than depicted in FIG. 3.Additionally, or alternatively, one or more components of device 300 mayperform one or more tasks described as being performed by one or moreother components of device 300.

Bus 310 may include a path that permits communications among thecomponents of device 300. Processor 320 may include one or moreprocessors, microprocessors, or processing logic (e.g., a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC)) that interprets and executes instructions. Memory 330may include any type of dynamic storage device that stores informationand instructions, for execution by processor 320, and/or any type ofnon-volatile storage device that stores information for use by processor320. Input component 340 may include a mechanism that permits a user toinput information to device 300, such as a keyboard, a keypad, a button,a switch, voice command, etc. Output component 350 may include amechanism that outputs information to the user, such as a display, aspeaker, one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), etc.

Communications interface 360 may include any transceiver-like mechanismthat enables device 300 to communicate with other devices and/orsystems. For example, communications interface 360 may include anEthernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, awireless interface, or the like. In another implementation,communications interface 360 may include, for example, a transmitterthat may convert baseband signals from processor 320 to radio frequency(RF) signals and/or a receiver that may convert RF signals to basebandsignals. Alternatively, communications interface 360 may include atransceiver to perform functions of both a transmitter and a receiver ofwireless communications (e.g., radio frequency, infrared, visual optics,etc.), wired communications (e.g., conductive wire, twisted pair cable,coaxial cable, transmission line, fiber optic cable, waveguide, etc.),or a combination of wireless and wired communications.

Communications interface 360 may connect to an antenna assembly (notshown in FIG. 3) for transmission and/or reception of the RF signals.The antenna assembly may include one or more antennas to transmit and/orreceive RF signals over the air. The antenna assembly may, for example,receive RF signals from communications interface 360 and transmit the RFsignals over the air, and receive RF signals over the air and providethe RF signals to communications interface 360. In one implementation,for example, communications interface 360 may communicate with network122.

As will be described in detail below, device 300 may perform certainoperations. Device 300 may perform these operations in response toprocessor 320 executing software instructions (e.g., computerprogram(s)) contained in a computer-readable medium, such as memory 230,a secondary storage device (e.g., hard disk, CD-ROM, etc.), or otherforms of RAM or ROM. A computer-readable medium may be defined as anon-transitory memory device. A memory device may include space within asingle physical memory device or spread across multiple physical memorydevices. The software instructions may be read into memory 330 fromanother computer-readable medium or from another device. The softwareinstructions contained in memory 330 may cause processor 320 to performprocesses described herein. Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may beused in place of or in combination with software instructions toimplement processes described herein. Thus, implementations describedherein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitryand software.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of example components of a device 400. Device 400may correspond to input device 126 and/or user device 124. As shown inFIG. 4, device 400 includes surface 410, microcontroller 420, andcommunication interface 430. In embodiments, surface 410 may be aphysical surface (e.g., constructed of plastic, metal, compositematerial, etc.) that when touched by a user results in informationentered via surface 410. In embodiments, surface 410 may be a surfacewith printed features that assist a user to determine what informationcan be entered when touching a particular part of the surface. Inalternate embodiments, surface 410 may be a glass or composite materialthat allows surface 410 to be used as a touchscreen. Accordingly, withsurface 410 being a touchscreen, a user may touch an area of the screenwith information which then results in that information being inputtedvia surface 410. Furthermore, one or more instructions or gestures thattouch touchscreen in a particular pattern which may change the type ofinformation that is associated with a particular area of surface 410.

In embodiments, microcontroller 420 may be similar to processor 320 andalso have additional electronic features. In embodiments,microcontroller 420 may include tactile switch 420A, motion sensor 420B,and haptic controller 420C. In embodiments, the analysis, communication,storage, and/or other electronic features of tactile switch 420A, motionsensor 420B, and haptic controller 420C may be combined together andperformed by microcontroller 420. In alternate embodiments, theanalysis, communication, storage, and/or other electronic features oftactile switch 420A, motion sensor 420B, and haptic controller 420C maybe conducted by another device in communication with microcontroller420. In embodiments, tactile switch 420A, motion sensor 420B, and hapticcontroller 420C may be separate devices that are part of device 400 ormay be partially or completely combined together as one or more devices.

In embodiments, tactile switch 420A may be a mechanism or other devicethat is associated with a motion sensor device.

In embodiments, motion sensor 420B may be a motion sensor such as aMicro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) gyro or accelerometer detectsmotion of the device and communicates the motion to the microcontroller420 via an I2C, SPI or serial connection. In embodiments, hapticcontroller 420C may be a haptic vibrator controller connected to avibration motor can share the bus with the gyro or use a separateconnection.

FIG. 5 is an example diagram of a surface area 500 associated with anelectronic input system such as input device 126. In embodiments, inputdevice 126 may include one or more surface areas 500. While shown asrectangular and/or square features, surface area 500 may also havefeatures of other shapes, regular and/or irregular. As shown in FIG. 5,surface area 500 may include a border 502. In embodiments, border 502may be used to delineate one surface area 500 from another surface area500 when input device 126 has multiple surface areas 500. Inembodiments, border 502 may be an area that is raised higher than theremainder of surface 500 to allow a person, when touching border 502, todetermine that border 502 exists. In embodiments, border 502 may have atexture or design that differentiates border 502 from surface 500.

In embodiments, surface area 500 may further include sub-areas 504. Inembodiments, sub-area 504 may have its own border 506 that allows foreach sub-area 504 to be differentiated from another sub-area 504. Inembodiments, border 506 may differentiate one sub-area 504 from anothersub-area 504. In embodiments, each border 506 may a pattern or designthat differentiates it from other borders 506. As shown in FIG. 5, thereare nine sub-areas 504; however, surface area 500 may have greater orfewer sub-areas 504. In embodiments, each sub-area 504 may have an area,bumps 508A, 508B, and 508C, that are at or around the center of eachsub-area 504 and have a particular shape. In embodiments, bumps 508A,508B, and 508C may a particular shape (e.g., circle, oval shaped, etc.)and may be orientated in a particular direction. For example, as shownin FIG. 5, bumps 508B and 508C are both shown as oval shaped. However,bump 508B is orientated in a different direction than bump 508C. Inembodiments, bumps 508A and 508B may have their surface area raisedabove the rest of each sub-area 503.

FIG. 6 is an example diagram of a surface area 600 associated with anelectronic input system such as input device 126. In embodiments, inputdevice 126 may include one or more surface areas 600. As shown in FIG.6, surface area 600 may include a border 602. In embodiments, border 602may be used to delineate one surface area 600 from another surface area600 when input device 126 has multiple surface areas 600. Inembodiments, border 602 may be an area that is raised higher than theremainder of surface 600 to allow a person, when touching border 602, todetermine that border 602 exists.

In embodiments, surface area 600 may further include sub-area 604. Inembodiments, sub-area 604 may have its own border 606 that allows foreach sub-area 604 to be differentiated from another sub-area 604. Asshown in FIG. 6, there are nine sub-areas 604; however, surface area 600may have greater or fewer sub-areas 604. In embodiments, each sub-area604 may have an area, bumps 608A, 608B, and 608C, that are at or aroundthe center of each sub-area 604 and have a particular shape. Inembodiments, bumps 608A and 608B may a particular shape (e.g., circle,oval shaped, etc.) and each shape assists in determining a particularsub-area 603 in comparison to other sub-areas 604. In embodiments, bumps608A and 608B may have their surface area raised above the rest of eachsub-area 603.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are example bumps associated with an electronic inputsystem. In embodiments, the example bumps may be similar to bumps 508A,508B, and 508C as described in FIG. 5 and/or similar to bumps 608A and608B as described in FIG. 6. As shown in each of FIGS. 7A to 7C, a bumpmay when raised from the surface of a sub-area. As shown in FIG. 7A,bump 702 may be raised above sub-area 704. As shown in FIG. 7B, bump 706may be raised above sub-area 708. As shown in FIG. 7C, bump 710 may beraised above sub-area 712. In embodiments, bumps 702, 704, and 706 areexample bumps and sub-areas may have different designed bumps.

FIG. 8 shows an example electronic input system 800 with capacitivetouchpads. In embodiments, electronic input system 800 may be similar toinput device 126. In embodiments, electronic input system 800 hasmultiple sub-areas, such as area 802. In embodiments, area 802 may havemultiple sub-areas 804, similar to sub-area 502 or 602 as described inthe above figures. In embodiments, electronic input system 800 may alsoinclude touch areas 806. In embodiments, each touch area 806 may be usedto select a particular area 802 which is then used for enteringinformation.

FIG. 9 shows an example electronic input system 900. In embodiments,electronic input system 900 may be similar to input device 126. As shownin FIG. 9, electronic input system 900 may include areas 902. Inembodiments, each area 902 may include sub-areas 904. In embodiments,sub-areas 904 may be similar to sub-area 502 or 602 as described in theabove figures. Furthermore, FIG. 9 shows area 906 which upon areas 902are placed upon with areas 902 having raised surfaces in a mannersimilar to those bumps described in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 also shows home bump908 which may be used to select a different menus that can be displayedon a screen associated with a device, such as user device 124.

FIG. 10 shows an example graphical user interface 1000 with multiplemenu selections. In embodiments, one or more of the multiple menuselections appear on graphical user interface 1000 based on a user'sinteractions with an input device. i.e., input device 126. Inembodiments, the menu selections 1002, 1004, and 1006 may appear totogether or individually on graphical user interface 1000 based on auser's interaction with an input device, i.e., input device 126. Asshown in FIG. 10, menu selection 1002 may be generated by input device126 and/or analysis server 130. In embodiments, menu selection 1002 maybe generated when a particular sub-area of input device 126 is selected,such as sub-area 502, sub-area 602, or home bump 908 as described in theabove figures. In embodiments, menu selection 1002 and/or menuselections 1004 and 1006 may be selected by touching a sub-area (asdescribed in the above figures) in a particular manner (e.g., pressingor touching the sub-area by swiping the sub-area in a particulardirection, pressing or touching a sub-area for a particular amount oftime, etc.). In embodiments, menu selections 1002, 1004, and 1006 may beelectronically generated and displayed on a graphical user interfacebased on the type of electronic communication received from an inputdevice, such as input device 126. In embodiments, the electronicinformation displayed in menu selections 1002, 1004, and/or 1006 maychange based on analysis by analysis server 128. In embodiments,analysis server 128 may analyze patterns of previous electronic inputsto determine which types of displayed information may result in lesstime being used to input electronic input. In embodiments, menuselection 1002 may include commands for editing. In embodiments, menuselection 1004 may include commands for style and color. In embodiments,menu selection 1006 many include commands for position of display ofelectronic information.

FIG. 11 shows example sub-areas that are displayed on a touchscreensurface of an input device such as input device 126. As shown in FIG.11, touchscreen area 1102 may be displayed as a default display when theinput device is initially turned. In embodiments, touchscreen area 1102may include then be used by a user of the input device to enterelectronic information. In embodiments, the user may decide that theywant to enter other types of electronic information and decides tochange the displayed information of the input device's touchscreen.Accordingly, in embodiments, a particular action by a user may betranslated into a particular electronic command that changes thetouchscreen display from touchscreen area 1102 to another touchscreenarea such as touchscreen area 1104, 1106, or any other touchscreen area.As shown in FIG. 11, each touchscreen area displays differentinformation. In embodiments, touchscreen area 1102 may also change anarea within touchscreen area 1102 to display other information in aparticular area based on electronic analysis by analysis server 128. Inembodiments, analysis server 128 may determine based on patterns ofprevious inputs that particular areas of touchscreen 1102 should bechanged to display other information. For example, as shown in FIG. 11,touchscreen area has a sub-area with “q w e.” Based on analysis ofpatterns of previous electronic inputs, analysis server 128 maydetermine that time between electronic inputs can be reduced if thesub-area had “q e w.” Accordingly, in this non-limiting example, onesub-area of a touchscreen area may be changed while other sub-areas staythe same.

FIG. 12 describes a flow chart of an example process 1200 for displayinginformation associated with an electronic input system. In embodiments,example process 1200 may be performed by user device 124 and/or inputdevice 126. At step 1202, user device 124 and/or input device 126 mayreceive electronic information. In embodiments, user device 124 and/orinput device 126 may receive the electronic information that isgenerated when a particular area or sub-area of input device 126 isselected. At step 1204, user device 124 and/or input device 126 maydisplay an electronic menu, such as menu selection 1002. At step 1206,user device 124 and/or input device 126 may receive additionalelectronic information. In embodiments, user device and/or input device126 may analyze the additional electronic information. At step 1208,user device 124 and/or input device 126 may determine whether to changethe displayed menu. If user device 124 and/or input device 126 determineto change the displayed menu (1208—YES), then at step 1210, the new menuis displayed. If user device 124 and/or input device 126 determine notto change the displayed menu (1208—NO), then the same menu is displayed(as described in 1204).

FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams of an example process for an exampleenvironment in which systems and/or methods described herein may beimplemented. As shown in FIG. 13A, a person is watching a program ontelevision 1302 and holding a television remote 1304 to control what theperson can watch on television 1302. FIG. 13B, describes input device1304 in further detail. As shown in FIG. 13B, input device 1302 has area1306 which is further delineated into different regions with each regionallowing for input of particular information. As shown in FIG. 1B, oneof those regions is 1308A and another region is 1308B. In embodiments,region 1308A may allow the person to input “1, “2,” or “3” at any giventime and region 1308B may allow the person to input “U,” “S,” or “C” atany given time.

FIG. 14A shows additional example bumps associated with electronicinputs. FIG. 14A shows targets (e.g. bumps) 1402, 1404, and 1406. Inembodiments, one or more targets described in FIG. 14A (and in FIG. 14B)may translate touch gestures into computer input values. In embodiments,each target includes position feedback features (changes to the surfacelevel or textures) that are detectable by a human body part (e.g., afinger, thumb, etc.) that is moving over the surface of an input system.In embodiments, a touch gesture may be the touching of a touch target ora movement of a finger (for example) moving across the surface from apress target to a release target. Accordingly, a target may be a presstarget, a release target, or a shift target, depending on the physicaltouch (i.e., gesture). In embodiments, a gesture may be initiated by atouch of a press target and completed by a touch of a release target. Inembodiments, the location of a press target may be determined bypropricoception and the feedback features may guide the finger towards apress target and then guide the finger to a release target. Inembodiments, a touch gesture may be extended by adding a shift target toa beginning of a gesture which can change an input value associated withthe gesture (e.g., from “a” to “A”). Thus, with a shift target, a fingermay begin a gesture by touching a shift target, then a press target, andthen a release target.

As shown in FIG. 14A, targets 1402 and 1406 are raised above target 1404to form two position feedback features (the raised surface). Inembodiments, the size and spacing of the features are such that a fingercentered on target 1404 may be contact with all three described targets.In embodiments, all touches (touch A) may begin with a touch of target1404 but may be completed by touching a different target (touch B ortouch C) before lifting the finger off the surface. In embodiments, eachgesture may produce a different input value. In FIG. 14B, a finger maynot touch target 1404 but may touch target 1402 or 1406 first.Accordingly, the raised features of target 1402 or 1406 may guide thefinger towards to target 1404 (a press target). In embodiments, a feelof the features evenly on each side of a finger verifies a correctposition of the finger on a target. Once an initial target is touched, afinger may be lifted to complete a simple target touch gesture or movedto targets 1402 or 1406 to complete a two-target gesture.

FIG. 15 shows an example character entry area in the form of a key FOB.As shown in FIG. 15, there are 21 one-touch targets (e.g., “w,” “s,”“k,” etc.). Also, as shown in FIG. 15, there are eight raised “bumps”(e.g., targets). In embodiments, the bumps are located between otherbumps so that a finger (or thumb) may in contact with one to fourone-touch targets. In embodiments, capacitive contacts located undereach bump may act as touch sensors that are capable of detecting fingerproximity. Accordingly, these features provide tactile feedback that mayallow a user to know based on touch which target is being touched.

Also, as shown in FIG. 15, there are three touch sensors in the form ofa raised bar which may serve as a space bar. In embodiments, additionalsensors on the left and right of the space bar serve as a caps shift keyand enter key respectively. In embodiments, the caps shift key may causethe following alphabetic character entered to be in upper case. Inembodiments, an RGB LED positioned above the character area, may providevisual feedback indicating the keyboard mode or state such as caps lockor command mode. In command mode, each micro gesture causes a command tobe issued rather than a character. Accordingly, when in command mode agraphic can be shown on the display device that marks the releaselocations with icon representations of the command issued for thegesture that ends at that location.

In embodiments, the twenty-one targets are arranged in a grid of threerows and seven columns. In embodiments, bumps with embedded contactsensors are positioned over every other target in the first and thirdrows. The triggering of a single sensor indicates that the target atthat sensor is being touched. Two triggered sensors indicate that thetarget between the two sensors is being touched. In embodiments, fourtriggered sensors indicate that a finger is in contact with the areabetween four of the sensors. Thus, character values are selected throughthe execution of touch gestures guided by the position feedbackfeatures.

FIG. 16 shows an example entry area 1600. As shown in FIG. 16, exampleentry area 1600 includes eight touch sensitive feedback surfacesfeatures, such as feature 1602 which are also identified by row andcolumn values (e.g., as shown with rows 1 to 3 and columns 1 to 7). Inembodiments, feature 1602 may be similar to 1402 as described in FIG.14A or 14B. In embodiments, feature 1604 may be similar to 1404 asdescribed in FIG. 14A or 14B. As shown in FIG. 16, the touch sensitivefeedback surface features assist movements in directions from in both ahorizontal and vertical movements. In embodiments, the circles mayrepresent touch sensitive position feedback surface features. Inembodiments, the dashed lines in FIG. 16 represent valid targetgestures.

FIG. 17 shows an example entry area 1700. As shown in FIG. 17, exampleentry area 1700 includes eight touch sensitive feedback surfacesfeatures, such as feature 1702, which are also identified by row andcolumn values (e.g., as shown with rows 1 to 3 and columns 1 to 7). Inembodiments, feature 1702 may be similar to 1402 as described in FIG.14A or 14B. In embodiments, feature 1704 and 1706 may be both types of1404 as described in FIG. 14A or 14B. As shown in FIG. 17, the touchsensitive feedback surface features assist in finger movements inhorizontal directions that assist in movement to another feature. Forexample, feature 1704 acts as a shift feature and assists in directingto either features 1702 or 1706.

FIG. 18 shows an example entry area 1800. As shown in FIG. 18, exampleentry area 1800 includes eight touch sensitive feedback surfacesfeatures, such as feature 1802, which are also identified by row andcolumn values (e.g., as shown with rows 1 to 3 and columns 1 to 7). Inembodiments, feature 1802 may be similar to 1402 as described in FIG.14A or 14B. In embodiments, feature 1804 and 1806 may be both types of1404 as described in FIG. 14A or 14B. As shown in FIG. 18, the touchsensitive feedback surface features assist in finger movements inhorizontal directions that assist in movement to another feature. Forexample, feature 1804 (e.g., position 2,1 or 1,2 based on column and rownumbering) acts as a shift feature for gestures that may be in 1806(e.g., 4,1 or 1,4).

In embodiments, for example entry area 1600, 1700, or 1800, momentarypush button switches located adjacent to an entry area. In embodiments,a momentary push button may be used to determine whether an exampleentry area is used for a left-handed or right-handed person.Additionally, or alternatively, the momentary push button can also beused to alter values associated with different entry areas.

FIG. 19 shows example database 1900. In example database 1900, variousmovements and/or combinations of different positions are associated withdifferent values, such as values associated with a QWERTY keyboard butused on an alternative keyboard as described in one or more examples. Asshown in FIG. 19, target 1902 indicates movement from one target toanother target such as field 1906 (2,1-1,1) or just touching one targetsuch as field 1908 (“1,7”) results in a value (“p” as shown in field1909). In embodiments, field 1904 indicates an example column that hasdifferent values associated with different movements shown, such as, incolumn 1902. In embodiments, database 1900 may be associated with entryarea 1600, 1700, or 1800. In embodiments values shown in field 1906 andother targets may be row by column or column by row based on entry areasdescribed in FIGS. 16, 17, and/or 18. For example, using the features ofexample entry area 1800 shown in FIG. 18, moving from feature 1804 to1802 may result in the electronic input of “!” Thus, field 1906 shows“2,1-1,1” where “2,1” indicates feature 1804 and “1,1” indicates 1802. Amovement (e.g., finger or thumb movement) from “2,1” to “1,1” results inthe electronic input of “!” as shown in field 1910. In embodiments,database 1900 also shows values that occur that are related to shiftedor un-shifted actions. For example, a shifted action may be using ashift button to convert “t” to “T.” In embodiments, as shown in database1900, field 1912 is an un-shifted value “a” associated with moving fromposition 2,2 to position 2,1 while a shifted value would be a value “<”as shown in field 1914.

FIG. 20 shows example entry area 2000. In embodiments, entry area 2000may have printed symbols displayed on the entry area (e.g., keyboard).In embodiments, the symbols associated with the column gestures areprinted above and below each corresponding column. In embodiments, thecharacter symbols for the remaining gestures are printed at the locationof the a particular release target. In embodiments, symbols associatedwith “shifted” gestures are printed as superscripts over the symbols forthe “un-shifted” gestures. In embodiments, the printed labels are forlearning the gestures and are not needed once the gestures are learned.

FIG. 21 shows example entry area 2100. In embodiments, entry area 2100may include different shift and target areas in a different entry areamakeup. In embodiments, feature 2102 may be an up arrow symbol (e.g.,used for channel or volume changes) that is selected based on thelocation of raised target areas.

FIG. 22 shows a diagram of example components of a device 400. Inembodiments, FIG. 22 shows microcontroller 2202, capacitive sensors2204, LED 2206, switches 2208, and Bluetooth radio 2210. In embodiments,microcontroller 2202 may be similar to processor 320 as described inFIG. 3, capacitive sensors 2204 may be similar to motion sensor 420B,LED 2206 may be different types of LED lights utilized in the keypadarea, switches 2208 may be similar to tactile switch 420A, and Bluetoothradio 2210 may have similar features to communication interface 360 asdescribed in FIG. 3.

It will be apparent that example aspects, as described above, may beimplemented in many different forms of software, firmware, and hardwarein the implementations illustrated in the figures. The actual softwarecode or specialized control hardware used to implement these aspectsshould not be construed as limiting. Thus, the operation and behavior ofthe aspects were described without reference to the specific softwarecode—it being understood that software and control hardware could bedesigned to implement the aspects based on the description herein.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of the possible implementations. Infact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specificallyrecited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Althougheach dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one otherclaim, the disclosure of the possible implementations includes eachdependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.

While various actions are described as selecting, displaying,transferring, sending, receiving, generating, notifying, and storing, itwill be understood that these example actions are occurring within anelectronic computing and/or electronic networking environment and mayrequire one or more computing devices, as described in FIG. 2, tocomplete such actions. Furthermore, it will be understood that thesevarious actions can be performed by using a touch screen on a computingdevice (e.g., touching an icon, swiping a bar or icon), using akeyboard, a mouse, or any other process for electronically selecting anoption displayed on a display screen to electronically communicate withother computing devices as described in FIG. 2. Also it will beunderstood that any of the various actions can result in any type ofelectronic information to be displayed in real-time and/orsimultaneously on multiple user devices (e.g., similar to user device124). For FIG. 12, the order of the blocks may be modified in otherimplementations. Further, non-dependent blocks may be performed inparallel.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application shouldbe construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described assuch. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include oneor more items and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Whereonly one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used.Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least inpart, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.

In the preceding specification, various preferred embodiments have beendescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however,be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto,and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing fromthe broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims thatfollow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded inan illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic communications method, comprising:receiving, by a device, electronic information; receiving, by thedevice, additional electronic information, where the device receives theadditional electronic information via a keyboard that is separate from atouchscreen associated with the keyboard, where the keyboard hasmultiple sub-areas, where each of the multiple sub-areas have bumps, where the bumps are circle-shaped or oval-shaped, where a time periodbetween receiving the electronic information and the additionalelectronic information is less than another time period betweenreceiving the electronic information and the additional electronicinformation by using a standard keyboard; displaying, by the device amenu on the touchscreen, where the menu is displayed based on touchingone or more of the multiple sub-areas in a particular order that isdifferent than touching another order of touching the one or more of themultiple sub-areas used to display another menu on the touchscreen. 2.The electronic communications method of claim 1, where each of themultiple sub-areas has a border area that differentiates one of themultiple sub-areas from another of the multiple sub-areas.
 3. Theelectronic communications method of claim 1, where each of the multiplesub-areas have a bump, where the bump is at a raised height than therest of the area of each of the multipole sub-areas.
 4. The electroniccommunications method of claim 1, where each of the multiple sub-areasis associated with a capacitive touch pad.
 5. The electroniccommunications method of claim 1, where the menu and the other menu aredisplayed together on a graphical user interface.
 6. The electroniccommunications method of claim 1, where the menu and the other menu arenot displayed together on a graphical user interface.
 7. The electroniccommunications method of claim 1, where the displaying the meu is basedon: analyzing, by the device, patterns of previous electronic inputs todetermine which types of displayed menu information results in less timebeing used to input the electronic information.
 8. The electroniccommunications method of claim 7, where the analyzing the patterns ofprevious electronic inputs changes the displayed menu information. 9.The electronic communications method of claim 1, further comprising:displaying, by the device, a light based on an input being sent from oneof the multiple sub-areas.
 10. The method of claim 1, where acombination of the multiple sub-areas is not designed as a QWERTYkeyboard but inputs into one or more of the multiple sub-areas toprovide the same input and output features of the QWERTY keyboard, andwhere inputting particular information via the multiple sub-areasrequires less time than if the particular information was inputted intothe QWERTY keyboard.
 11. A device, comprising: one or more processorsto: receive electronic information, where the electronic information isreceived via inputs through one or more sub-areas, where the one or moresub-areas is different from a touchscreen associated with the device,display a first menu on the touchscreen associated with the device,based on receiving the electronic information; receive additionalelectronic information, where the additional electronic information isreceived via different inputs through one or more sub-areas which makeup the keyboard, where a time period between receiving the electronicinformation and the additional electronic information is less thananother time period between receiving the electronic information and theadditional electronic information by using a standard keyboard; analyzethe electronic information and the additional electronic information anddetermine a pattern associated with the additional electronicinformation and the electronic information; and display a second menu onthe touchscreen associated with the device, based on determining thepattern.
 12. The device of claim 11, where the analyzing the electronicinformation and the additional electronic information results in thedevice to: change menu information.
 13. The device of claim 11, wherethe changed menu information includes different information associatedwith a particular sub-area.
 14. The device of claim 12, where each ofthe raised bumps are different in shape.
 15. The device of claim 12,where a portion of the bumps are of an irregular shape.
 16. The deviceof 12, where a combination the multiple sub-areas is not designed as aQWERTY keyboard but inputs into one or more of the multiple sub-areas toprovide the same input and output features of the QWERTY keyboard.